Planned Giving

Will Planning Wizard

Important Information

When done, the Wizard will generate a Microsoft Word document with your information organized. Save it to your computer (File > Save As, and choose Desktop).

The Will Planning Wizard consists of 19 pages. For your convenience, the Wizard can be downloaded in PDF format and printed so you can fill it out by hand.

Sixty percent of Americans die without a valid will. That usually means state laws take over and distribute their probate estates according to generic formulas that have nothing to do with the decedents' wishes.

Don't let that happen to you.

This Will Planning Wizard begins the will preparation process. It does not create a will or a legal document. Instead, it guides you in collecting and organizing your thoughts, information, and documentsbefore you visit your attorney.

(Please note that some states allow an individual to compose his or her own will, but it is wise to employ a qualified attorney. A will is one of the least expensive legal documents, and a well-written one could save your heirs a lot of dollars and hassle.)

To protect your identity, the Will Planning Wizard will not ask for your Social Security Number. None of your information is captured by the Wizard or stored on file. However, if you exit the Wizard before completing it, all of your information will be lost and you will have to start again.

Prior Marriages

Step 2 of 19

♠ Please Note: If you have been previously married more than once, please provide all requested information for any additional spouses on a separate sheet.

Name of Former Spouse:Date of Marriage (mm/dd/yy):Specify if the marriages terminated by death or divorce:Date of Termination of Marriage (mm/dd/yy):List any relevant information regarding any obligations, child support, or maintenance that is not contained in any dissolution decrees you have attached to this form:

Children

Step 3 of 19

♠ Please Note: Please list any adopted children under the applicable categories and indicate that they are adopted. Also, please indicate if any children are deceased.

List all children from your current marriage, providing their names, dates of birth, and addresses if different from your own:List all children from any previous marriage or relationships, providing their names, names of the other parent, dates of birth, and addresses if different from your own:List all children of your spouse from any previous marriage or relationship, providing their names, names of the other parent, dates of birth, and addresses if different from your own:

Dependents

Step 4 of 19

♠ Remember: If you cannot, or do not wish to, answer any questions in full at this time, keep on going. You'll have the chance to fill in the blanks later.

Are there any persons, other than minor children, who are partially or wholly dependent upon either you or your spouse for support now or possibly in the future? If so, please list their name and address and describe the nature of the relationship.

Other Family Members

Step 5 of 19

List the names, dates of birth, parentage, and current addresses of any grandchildren of you or your spouse:List the names, addresses, and birth dates of your parents, if still living:List the names, addresses, and birth date of any living siblings:

Gifts or Inheritances

Step 10 of 19

Are either you or your spouse likely to receive any gifts or inheritances? If so, please describe:Do either you or your spouse make, or intend to make, regular gifts to any person? If so, please describe:

Real Property

Will Provisions

Step 13 of 19

Personal Representative

A personal representative administers your estate in accordance with the instructions contained in your Will. Please list a first choice and an alternate, in case the person who is your first choice predeceases you or is unable to serve:

First Choice

Name:Address:Relationship:

Alternate

Name:Address:Relationship:

Distribution

Please list the individuals to whom you wish to leave your estate providing instruction as to what percentage shall be received by each beneficiary:If any of your designated beneficiares should predecease you, do you want to distribute the gift among surviving beneficiaries? Or pass the gift to the children of deceased beneficiary?

If you die before your children reach the age of eighteen, who do you wish to serve as their guardian?

First Choice

Name:Address:Relationship:

Alternate

Name:Address:Relationship:

Charitable Interests

Please list the charitable organizations to which you would like to bequeath an interest from your estate, and the approximate amounts(s) you would like to leave to each:

Testamentary Trust

If you wish, you can create a testamentary trust in your Will to become effective upon your death. The classic reason to establish such a trust is to ensure the well-being of your minor children, finance their education, etc. However, a testamentary trust can be created to accomplish a wide variety of goals. If you are interested in creating a testamentary trust, or have questions, please indicate your wishes and questions below.

Durable Power of Attorney

Step 14 of 19

The Durable Power of Attorney becomes effective upon the proven incompetency of an individual to handle his or her own affairs. In this document, you would name a person who would take charge of your affairs (known as your "attorney-in-fact"). The value of this document is that it eliminates the need to establish a guardianship in the event of incompetency.

First Choice

Alternate

Power of Attorney for Healthcare

Step 15 of 19

♠ Please Note: Your attorney-in-fact should be a person in whose judgment you trust.

The Power of Attorney for Health Care authorizes the designated attorney-in-fact to authorize or withhold medical care if you are unable to do so yourself. The person so designated should be a person with whom you have discussed issues such as use of medical means to prolong your life artificially.

Do you need this document prepared?

YesNo

Who do you wish to nominate as your attorney-in-fact?

First Choice

Name:Address:Relationship:

Alternate

Directive to Physicians (Living Will)

Step 16 of 19

The Directive to Physicians clarifies a person's wish not to have his or her life "artificially prolonged" in the case of any injury, disease or terminal condition rendering such person unable to communicate.